BEER

O'so Brewing is out with a flavorful seasonal beer that just started appearing on Madison store shelves. 3rd Wheel, a Belgian blonde ale made with rose hips, is the newest bottled beer from the Plover-based brewery. Owner and brewmaster Marc Buttera made it as a departure from the summertime variations of wheat beers that are so abundant this time of year. >More

Port Huron Brewing Company in Wisconsin Dells has been in the works for over two years. For brewmaster Tanner Brethorst, it must have felt like the longest fermentation period he's ever dealt with. But this past weekend, he opened the brewery's taproom for the first time. >More

As the Great Dane family of brewpubs has grown to four Madison locations, three of which have their own brewery operations, company V.P. and brewmaster Rob LoBreglio hasn't been able to be in the brewhaus as much as he likes. While each Dane has its own brewer, LoBreglio oversees the team. So when he does stand over the brew kettle himself, the Madison beer community can expect something special. >More

If you are a fan of the Maibock style of beer, you must feel a certain pressure to enjoy one in the month of May. Brewmaster Pat Keller follows the annual spring ritual with the timely release of his version of Maibock at the Great Dane in Fitchburg. "I'd make this beer all the time if they'd let me, but then it wouldn't be so special," says Keller. Maibock just went on tap in Fitchburg and the downtown Great Dane. >More

For one week -- okay, for those counting, 10 days -- Madison Craft Beer Week has allowed us to put aside our divisions and focus attention on a common thread of interest -- beer! A brew by that very name, Common Thread, has become the toast of local brewpubs, tasting rooms and tap houses around Madison. >More

If the meaning of life can be found on a bumper sticker, I believe that the phrase "Real women don't drink light beer" pretty much sums it up. The women who gather monthly at Vintage Brewing Company in Madison for a women's-only beer-tasting club reinforce my belief. The FEMs, or Females Enjoying Microbrews, started meeting in January under the tutelage of Robyn Klinge, beer education manager at Vintage. >More

Pearl Street Brewery is a southwest Wisconsin brewer that doesn't always receive the fanfare given to other regional beer producers. Some may be surprised to learn the brewery has been around for more than 13 years, and over the last few has stepped up its distribution in Madison. The brewery's best seller, D.T.B., is an American Brown Ale that deserves a little attention. >More

It may seem like heaven -- or at least 10 days in paradise. Beginning May 4, Madison Craft Beer Week will offer more than 175 events at 50 beer hangouts around the city. It'll be a chance to try one-time-only taps and attend special beer dinners, beer education classes, and many tastings, some of them free. >More

When picking a favorite beer to go with food, the Saison is almost always at the top of my list because it works with so many dishes. That's helpful this time of year, when saisons are more readily available from local brewers as a spring seasonal. >More

Hoppy beer fans take note -- Hop Rush is back on tap at the Great Dane-Hilldale! This beer is more than just assertive bitterness in a glass -- it's one that speaks to fans of West Coast style pale ales. With almost an engineer's "I can build it" approach, brewer Don Vasa has designed a beer that allows the hops to shine without overwhelming the palate from too much malty body. His Hop Rush offers a flash of bitterness with nothing to hold back the onslaught of crisp resiny hoppiness. >More